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119-s-1774119th CongressWALLET

Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act

Sponsored By: Senator Risch, James E. [R-ID]

Introduced

Summary

Prohibits FEHB coverage of gender-affirming care for minors. This bill would add a new subsection to the Federal Employees Health Benefits program that defines “gender-affirming care,” enumerates specific exclusions, and creates a narrow phase-out for ongoing hormone therapy.

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  • Families and minors: Minors covered by FEHB would no longer have plan coverage for puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-transition surgeries. Those already receiving physician-supervised hormone therapy as of the effective date may continue under a reduction schedule that must end within 1 year.
  • Federal employees and dependents: Federal employees and their families would see those benefit changes take effect for contracts entered into or renewed for a contract year on or after enactment.
  • FEHB carriers and contractors: FEHB plans would need to revise covered benefits and contract language to reflect the new definition, the listed exclusions, and the limited transition rule.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

FEHB bans gender care for minors

If enacted, FEHB plans would not cover any gender-affirming care for people under 18. This prohibition would apply to FEHB contracts entered into or renewed for a contract year on or after the date of enactment. A minor who was receiving hormone therapy covered the day before the law takes effect could continue only under a doctor-supervised reduction plan that must end within one year after the effective date. The bill says this rule applies even if other laws or rules say otherwise.

Defines gender-affirming care for FEHB

If enacted, the bill would define "gender-affirming care" for FEHB to include hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries to change sex. It would also list many exclusions. Those exclusions keep care for medically verifiable disorders of sexual development, certain genetic or biochemical disorders, emergency or life‑threatening procedures, treatment of harms caused by listed interventions, puberty suppression for diagnosed precocious puberty, puberty-stimulating hormones for diagnosed delayed puberty when used consistent with biological sex, and male circumcision out of the definition.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Risch, James E. [R-ID]

ID • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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